Jesus offers two crucial insights about the Kingdom of God, reminding us that we all start small and flourish with slow and steady growth over time.
Mass Readings – Friday of the 3rd Week of the Year
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St. Angela Merici, pray for us!
Tag Archives: Growth
Daily Mass: A plan to build the Kingdom of God. Catholic Inspiration
Study, Pray, Serve: 3rd Sunday of Lent
Here are some of the main themes in the readings for the 3rd Sunday of Lent.
1st Reading – Exodus 3:1-8a,13-15
- Moses encounters the Lord who speaks from the burning bush.
- God announces the plan to save the people of Israel from their bondage in Egypt and will be called “I AM” when the people ask Moses what is God’s name.
Psalm – 103:1-4,6-8,11
- “The Lord is kind and merciful.”
- God is merciful and gracious, healing, redeeming and pardoning our sins.
2nd Reading – 1st Corinthians 10:1-6,10-12
- St. Paul recounts part of the mistakes of the people of Israel as they fled Egypt.
- We are encouraged to learn from this and seek what is good as we follow Jesus Christ.
Gospel – Luke 13:1-9
- Jesus speaks to the people, encouraging them to repent.
- The Lord then offers a parable about cultivating a fruitful life, and he includes a warning if we neglect our growth.
Mass Readings – 3rd Sunday of Lent
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Note: These are the readings for “Year C” in the Lectionary for Mass. On the 3rd, 4th and 5th Sundays of Lent, parishes may use the “Year A” readings at Masses that includes members of the RCIA process.
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8th Sunday of the Year: What’s growing in our hearts? Catholic Inspiration
Jesus teaches the disciples that we will know a tree by its fruit, and this insight can be applied to the state of our spiritual lives and our relationships with one another.
Mass Readings – 8th Sunday of the Year
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Daily Mass: Moses is transformed by God’s presence. Catholic Inspiration
Moses becomes radiant through his encounter with God. The image helps us understand how the more we dwell upon Lord’s presence in our lives, the more we are transformed…for the good!
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 17th Week of the Year
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Daily Mass: Good things often take time to grow. Catholic Inspiration
The Gospel reveals that growth and knowledge often take time to develop. This process of maturity reminds us that our own spiritual life requires a steady discipline of commitment over the entire course of our lives.
Mass Readings – The Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas
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Daily Mass: Practical advice about broken relationships. Catholic Inspiration
Jesus offers practical advice for dealing with broken relationships in a way that is empowering and crucial for our personal growth.
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 19th Week of the Year
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6th Sunday of Easter: The Great Commandment to Love.
Study: Recall the people in life who have loved us unconditionally. How did their love help you change and grow?
Pray: Ask the Lord for the grace to recognize the people in our midst we are called to love.
Serve: Love takes many forms. What can I do today for another person out of love?
Mass Readings – 6th Sunday of Easter
For the last few weeks our lives have been disrupted – in great and small ways – by COVID-19. Our “normal” routines and expectations have been cast aside as we have made changes in response to this health threat.
And while this change is substantial, it is good to remember that we are constantly making adjustments to our lives. Nothing stays the same, and in the changes we face we discover new opportunities to grow.
Change is a part of life. Through our experiences and encounters we develop and discover new perspectives and resources within our lives. Change happens when we open our hearts to those around us and put into action our new insights.
In the Gospel Jesus states that to love him means to keep his commandments. There are two:
1. Love God
2. Love one another.
It is important to note that these commands are not just about being busy. To love means to be in relationship with others; love invites us to grow in our awareness and understanding for one another. This knowledge leads to greater respect and value for all life.
In the Gospel love is a verb. It must be acted upon, practiced, and carried out in all parts of life. To love means to work at a relationship – and thus be open to spend the time and effort necessary.
Yet when we open our hearts to love we are changed. As we experience love, as we work at it, we discover that our hearts get stretched. We become challenged to grow, to make room so that we can love more deeply, more completely.
Jesus promises that we will have help. As we open our lives to the power of love, the Spirit will come to help us and guide us. Transformed by love, we trust that God will continue to direct us, until the cycle of love and change brings us one day to the Kingdom of Heaven.
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New Year’s Eve: A time to reflect on the past year. Catholic Inspiration
As we bring the year 2019 to a close, perhaps it makes sense to take a brief walk back through the last twelve months and reflect on how our lives have changed. Where did we experience moments of growth? Where did we experience God’s grace? May we look back and count our blessings as we prepare for a New Year.
Happy New Year!
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13th Sunday of the Year: Some assembly required. Catholic Inspiration
In our best moments we know that we are works in progress – people growing through the ups and downs of life – and that we have to follow directions because some assembly is required. May we trust in the Lord to lead us through this life as we follow with all our heart.
Mass Readings – 13th Sunday of the Year
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The Feast of the Ascension
Study: Reflect on a moment of profound change in your life. What lessons did you learn?
Pray: Ask the Lord for guidance to proclaim the Good News in your current situation.
Serve: Do you know someone who is experiencing great change right now? How can you help them?
Mass Readings – Feast of the Ascension of the Lord
About this time of year students experience transition. The academic year is coming to a close, classes are wrapping up, papers are written and exams taken. It is a time where one can clearly see change: teachers and classmates conclude their studies and look to new opportunities and experiences in the summer.
For some it might be work; others might attend summer school; still others might experience a move to a new location. Change takes many forms, but through it all some key points emerge:
- New People
- New Locations
- Opportunity to apply learning to life
The Feast of the Ascension is one such moment of profound change in the early Church. Rejoicing with one another over the Resurrection, the apostles were flying high – the Lord is risen! In this moment of enthusiasm and hope, the Lord (truly in the role of Teacher) shares with them a new lesson – it’s time to change and grow.
Now they are the ones who must teach; they are the ones chosen to proclaim the Good News; through their efforts the Holy Spirit will empower them to heal and drive out demons. Simply put, the Ascension of Jesus clears the way for the disciples to apply the Lord’s teaching in their own lives as they continue Christ’s mission in the world.
We are part of that mission. We received our faith from those who came before us, and today we have an opportunity to proclaim the Good News to those in our lives. Here are some thoughts:
- Family – who often see us in unguarded moments
- Friends – sustained and strengthened by our efforts
- Coworkers – witness our character and conviction
- Classmates – supported and encouraged in learning
- Neighbors – perceive our actions and effort
- Strangers – 1st impressions that point to Christ
- Enemies – encounter justice and mercy with forgiveness
The Good News takes many forms, and in our moments of transition we are given new opportunities to act. May the Ascension of our Lord inspire us to look for change in our own lives and seek ways where we can live joyful lives as disciples of Jesus Christ!
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Note: This post was first published on May 12, 2015.
Three Great Things 